The General's Explanation, The Plan Officially Confirmed

The charcoal pencil was still clenched in Chen Wuya's hand, his knuckles white from the force of his grip. He stood before the sand table, his gaze sweeping across every face. The discussion inside the tent had yet to cease; some nodded in agreement, some still frowned in silence, while General A stood with his back to the others beside the table, one hand resting on his sword hilt, saying nothing.

Chen Wuya did not wait for anyone else to speak first. He slowly stepped down from the sand table platform, his boot crushing a crease at the edge of the reed mat, and stopped three paces behind General A.

"You're right." His voice was not loud, yet the tent gradually fell silent. "I'm not a general, and I've never commanded armies of thousands. But the battles I fought weren't about holding a line. They were about staying alive."

General A did not turn around, but his shoulders stiffened slightly.

Chen Wuya took a strip of cloth from his robes. Its edges were charred black, and a tear through its middle had been crudely stitched together with thick thread. He gently placed it on the table, directly beside the charcoal pencil that had yet to be put away.

"Three days ago, a refugee camp was surrounded. I told a cook who'd only just picked up a blade to retreat three steps, leap left, then slash backhandedly. He didn't know why; he only did as he was told. That leap happened to evade an enemy soldier's sweeping strike, and his return slash severed the man's hamstrings."

He paused. "That move is called 'Reverse Treading Seven Stars.' It's actually Qingfeng Sword Sect's 'Treading Snow Without Trace' practiced in reverse. He himself didn't know it was wrong. He only knew those were his